Top Four Health Benefits of Hypnosis [Research]

In the past, many people believed hypnosis is a trick. However, in 1958, the American Medical Association (AMA) approved it as a therapy. Currently, more scientific research is being conducted to prove the benefits which hypnosis offers. Here are five of its health benefits of hypnosis that science supports.

1. Induces Deep Sleep

In past studies on how hypnosis affects sleep, most participants were required to give feedback on how they slept after being hypnotized. However, recently, Swiss scientists measured the effects by monitoring the mental activities of healthy women. They rested for 90 minutes after listening to a hypnotic tape.

People who were regarded as being prone to hypnosis would have extra sleeping hours compared to those listening to a natural conversation. Moreover, hypnosis doesn’t have serious side effects, unlike most sleep-inducing medications. Typically, when you are hypnotized, you get into a sleep-like condition. It trains your mind to have consistent sleeping patterns.

2. Treats Hot Flashes

Most postmenopausal women experience numerous hot flashes each week. A study conducted in 2013 revealed that administering five hypnosis sessions every week reduces hot flashes by more than 70%. Patients who weren’t hypnotized but visited clinicians on a weekly basis experienced a 17% decrease in the flashes.

3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptoms

In 2003, APA discovered in a study that most irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients claimed to have better symptoms after attending one-hour hypnosis sessions for three months. Most of those who recorded improvements felt better for six years after their hypnosis treatment ended.

In 2012, another study indicated that over 80% of IBS patients with improved symptoms continued recovering for seven years. The researchers concluded that hypnotherapy effectively reduces the cost and consumption of medical care in communities. It’s a safe treatment of IBS.

4. Relieves Pain

Extensive research has been conducted on the efficiency of hypnosis in relieving pain. In 2000 and 2009, two reports about managing pain were published. It adequately reduced pain associated with several health conditions including arthritis, cancer, and fibromyalgia. However, the researchers discovered that only a few psychologists used hypnosis. Of these, most of them didn’t have vast experience in hypnotherapy treatment.